Malocclusion has great impact on society and the individual in terms of social and functional limitations, psychological trauma and discomfort. The Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI) is a WHOrecommended method of screening for dentofacial anomalies and orthodontic treatment need. This survey was conducted to determine the prevalence of malocclusion and orthodontic treatment need among high school students in Mangalore city, Karnataka State, India. List of schools in Mangalore city was obtained from the Block Educational Officer. After obtaining consent from the relevant authorities, four schools were selected by random sampling (lottery method). In these schools, all students who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were examined with the help of a recorder. A proforma was used to record demographic data (name of the student and school, age, gender), and the criteria of the DAI for each subject. Data were analyzed using the Chi squared test and a p-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Study subjects numbered 422 and ranged in age from 11-18 years. According to the DAI criteria, 66.1% subjects had no abnormality or minor malocclusion (requiring little or no orthodontic treatment), 22.3% had definite malocclusion (in whom orthodontic treatment was an elective option), 9.9% presented with severe malocclusion (with orthodontic treatment being highly desirable) and 1.7% had very severe or handicapping malocclusion (requiring mandatory orthodontic treatment). Malocclusion and orthodontic treatment need were found to be present in 33.9% of the population surveyed. These data will help in planning and executing appropriate measures to overcome this oral condition.

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The objectives of this investigation were to evaluate the oral status and tobacco use of subjects residing in rural areas to provide epidemiological data for planning oral health programs and to test a scale developed to rate oral status. A cross-sectional investigation was conducted among first-visit subjects visiting the out-patient dental clinics of two rural hospitals during a sixmonth period. Data were collected by interviews and clinical examinations. Criteria evaluated in the proposed scale were based on the status of the oral tissues in disease and health. Differences in proportions were compared using the Chi squared test and a p-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The study population comprised 614 patients (43.6% male, 56.4% female) aged between four and 80. Only 1.6% subjects had an intact dentition while 17.9% presented with a healthy periodontium. Two hundred forty-five subjects had undergone prosthetic rehabilitation. Tobacco use was reported by 13.3% subjects and they accounted for 88% of the oro-mucosal lesions observed. Once daily tooth cleansing was reported by 68.2% subjects while 2.3% did not practice any oral hygiene measures. The scale used mirrored the subjects' oral status accurately. To conclude, the poor oral status of this population was compounded by lack of awareness about the presence of oral disease. A renewed stress on implementation of oral health promotion strategies for rural populations seems critical in the present context and the proposed scale needs to be validated by studies on larger population groups.

Aim: Betel chewer's mucosa, although not considered as a potentially malignant lesion, has been suggested to be a precursor of oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF). Thus a study was undertaken to asses various quid chewing patterns in patients with chewer's mucosa and to evaluate possible association between chewer's mucosa and a particular quid usage pattern. Materials and methods:The study was done on 150 subjects clinically diagnosed of having chewer's mucosa lesion. After complete oral examination, a detailed habit history was taken through preformed questionnaire. The data obtained was analyzed using Chi-square test.Results: Among the 150 subjects males to female ratio was 8:2. Majority of the subjects were within the age group of 20 to 30 years and chewed a combination of betel leaf, arecanut, tobacco, lime. Majority of the subjects of chewer's mucosa used the quid for a duration of 1 to 5 years, a frequency of three to five quid per day. Conclusion:In the present study, chewer's mucosa was seen in majority of the subjects who used the quid for a duration of 1 to 5 years, a frequency of three to five quid per day and chewed the quid containing betel leaf, arecanut, tobacco, lime as its constituents.

The Adenomatoid Odontogenic Tumour (AOT) is a progressively growing asymptomatic benign non-invasive lesion. A rare subvariant of the extrafollicular type of AOT may mimic periapical disease radiographically. We report a 45-year-old male with a periapical radiolucent lesion affecting maxillary central incisor tooth. Initially suspicious of periapical pathology, although clinical findings seemed to indicate a nonendodontic cause. The lesion was surgically explored and histopathological examination revealed the presence of AOT. This particular subvariant is very rare indeed, as available literature only 8 cases have been reported.